Herbal and tobacco filler composition for biri, cigarette and the like

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a process of preparing herbal filler composition for biri, cigarette and the like comprising: gradual sun drying leaves of Cichorium intybus (Chicory) till the moisture of leaves is reduced to 10% to 12%, removing the midribs from said leaves, shredding said leaves without midribs in a shredder to the desired size, 10-90% tobacco in the said shredded leaves, optionally, adding flavouring agents, as herein described, in said shredded leaves and tobacco, if desired and mixing evenly, and filing said flavoured shredded leaves in biri, cigarette and the like for smoking.

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

A Herbal And Tobacco Filler Composition For Biri, Cigarette And The Like.

Reference to our copending Patent Application No. 668/Mas/2004 filed on 12^(th) Jul., 2004 in which we have described Biri, Cigarette or cheroot made Cichorium Intybus (Chicory), the object was to completely replace tobacco with Chicory. In the present invention the tobacco is partially replaced with Chicory to distract habitual smoker from smoking and also reduce the harmful effect of nicotine contained in the tobacco.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an herbal and tobacco filler composition for biri, cigarette or cheroot or pipe herbal filler composition, which contains 10-90% of tobacco to distract smoker from smoking and reduce harmful effects of the nicotine content of the tobacco, and a process for preparing the same. The filler composition is made of chicory leaves and 10-90% tobacco, Biri. cigarette or cheroot made in accordance with this invention are likely to be less harmful and non-addictive to habitual smokers, also as enjoyable as tobacco products and provide a similar feeling as biri or cigarette or cheroot with tobacco.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Biri, cigarette or cheroot made from tobacco contains nicotine and nitrosamines and such biri, cigarette or cheroot when lighted and smoked are deleterious to the health of smokers. The addictive nature of nicotine is universally known and the cancer causing properties of nitrosamines is equally well documented. Nicotine exists in tobacco only in formation with maleic acid or citric acid. It is a colorless oily liquid, which contains low oxide. It is volatile and water-soluble. Excessive long term smoking causes clumsiness and stomach and eye disorders. Nitrosamines which are tobacco specific are potent human carcinogens and comes with the burning of cured tobacco which is used in making biri and cigarette

Prolonged use of tobacco through smoking has several deleterious side-effects. The lung primarily takes the brunt of the abuse in the body followed by the receptors which take the nicotine. The blood pressure, pulse-rate, carbon monoxide levels in the blood all increase causing a chronic condition called as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease which is the 6^(th) largest killer in the world now.

It has been reported that it is 6-10 times more likely for smokers to die of lung cancer than non-smokers. Smoking prohibition has been initiated everywhere and there is a widespread anti-smoking campaign. Although such prohibitions and campaigns may have some degree of effectiveness, it is not the best way to solve the problem on account of people still wanting to indulge. The population of smokers is increasing. Children start smoking as early as 11 or 12 years old. Clearly, the initiation of smoking at such a young age will have deleterious effect on their health. It is therefore highly desirable to remove nicotine from biri, cigarettes and the like to prevent addiction and thereby the problems associated with tobacco smoking.

The object of this invention is to make biri, cigarette or cheroot less toxic and by partially replacing the tobacco by dried chicory leaves and yet deliver smoking satisfaction like smoking biri or cigarette or cheroot with tobacco.

To achieve the said objective this invention provides a process of i preparing herbal and tobacco filler composition for biri, cigarette and the like comprising:

-   -   gradual sun drying leaves of Cichorium intybus (Chicory) till         the moisture of leaves is reduced to 10% to 12%,     -   removing the midribs from said leaves,     -   shredding said leaves without midribs in a shredder to the         desired size,     -   adding 10-90% tobacco in the said shredded leaves,     -   optionally, adding flavouring agents, as herein described, in         said shredded leaves and tobacco , if desired and mixing evenly,         and     -   filling said flavoured shredded leaves and tobacco in biri,         cigarette and the like for smoking.

The said flavouring agents are pan flavour, spearmint, tobacco flavour, fruit flavours or combination thereof.

The pan flavour comprises either pan masala powder or pan masala liquid or combination thereof.

The fruit flavours are Tonavin, strawberry, green apple, mixed fruit or combination thereof.

The tobacco flavour is commercial tobacco flavour.

The spearmint or menthol are added in the range 0.0004-0.001% of the shredded leaves and other flavouring agents are added in the range 0.001-0.5% of the shredded leaves.

The present invention also provides biri, cigarette and the like whenever prepared by above herbal and tobacco filler composition.

Details Of Plant Used In Place Tobacco

Botanical name: Cichorium intybus (Chicory)

Vernacular names: Kasini in Hindi belonging to the Compositae family.

Occurrence & Distribution: the plant is found mainly in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in India and in countries like Sri Lanka, Europe, Australia and USA

Description: Wild and cultivated for food, fodder and medicinal use. The plant is annual and biennial. There is a broad leaved and curled leaved variety. The flowers are bright blue. The plant grows to a height of around 90 cm.

Parts used: Leaves

Uses: Chicory root is used with Coffee. It is also a medicinal plant. From the root Inulin an inert polysaccharide is made. The leaves are consumed as salad.

General chemical constituents:

Roots produce latex, inulin 58%, a bitter compound comprising of lactucin and lactucopictin-intybin, cichorin taraxsteral, tannins, fructose, and pectin.

The invention will now be described with reference to foregoing examples

EXAMPLE—1

The fresh leaves of Chicorlum intybus is staked and dried under the sun in the open field. The leaves are periodically checked for moisture. Under normal weather conditions during the month of March-June, it takes around 6 weeks for the leaves to attain moisture of around 11%. The night dew is very important in the reduction of the moisture gradually and also to bring about pliability. Thus the staking of the leaves is very important. If the leaves are simply loosely left in the open they turn dry and brittle which is not useful for making biri or cigarette. Removing the mid-ribs from said sun-dried leaves and shredding the said leaves by a shredder to a desired size is the next stage. Adding 10% of tobacco leaves to the shredded leaves of chicory and mixing thoroughly. The said filler composition is filled in biri or cigarette for smoking.

EXAMPLE—II

The fresh leaves of Chicorium intybus is staked and dried under the sun in the open field. The leaves are periodically checked for moisture. Under normal weather conditions during the month of March-June, it takes around 6 weeks for the leaves to attain moisture of around 11%. The night dew is very important in the reduction of the moisture gradually and also to bring about a pliability. Thus the staking of the leaves is very important. If the leaves are simply loosely left in the open they turn dry and brittle which is not useful for making biri or cigarette. Removing the mid-ribs from said sun-dried leaves and shredding the said leaves by a shredder to a desired size is the next stage. Adding 90% of tobacco leaves to the shredded leaves of Chicory and mixing thoroughly. The said filler composition is filled in biri or cigarette for smoking.

EXAMPLE III

Sun drying leaves of Cichorium intybus (Chicoy) till their moisture is reduced to 12%. Removing the mid-ribs from said sun-dried leaves and shredding said leaves by a shredder. Adding 60% of tobacco leaves to the shredded leaves of Chicory and further adding spearmint or menthol in the range 0.0004-001% of the shredded leaves as a flavouring agent and mixing thoroughly. The said filler composition is filled in biri or cigarette for smoking.

EXAMPLE IV

Sun drying leaves of Cichorium intybus (Chicoy) till their moisture is reduced to 11%. Removing the mid-ribs from said sun-dried leaves and shredding said leaves by a shredder. Adding 40%) of tobacco leaves to the shredded leaves of Chicory and further adding fruit flavours like tonovin, pineapple, strawberry in the range 0.01-0.5% of the shredded leaves as a flavouring agent and mixing thoroughly. The said filler composition is filled in biri or cigarette for smoking.

EXAMPLE—V

The fresh leaves of Chicorium intybus is staked and dried under the sun in the open field. The leaves are periodically checked for moisture. Under normal weather conditions during the month of March-June, it takes around 6 weeks for the leaves to attain moisture of around 11%. The night dew is very important in the reduction of the moisture gradually and also to bring about a pliability. Thus, the staking of the leaves is very important. If the leaves are simply loosely left in the open they turn dry and brittle which is not useful for making biri or cigarette. Removing the mid-ribs from said sun-dried leaves and shredding the said leaves by a shredder to a desired size is the next stage. Adding 70% of tobacco leaves to the shredded leaves of Chicory and further adding fruit flavours like tonovin, pineapple, strawberry in the range 0.01-0.5% of the shredded leaves as a flavouring agent and mixing thoroughly. The said filler composition is filled in biri or cigarette for smoking. 

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A process of preparing herbal and tobacco filler composition for a smoking article, comprising: gradual sun drying leaves of Cichorium intybus (Chicory) till the moisture of leaves is reduced to 10% to 12%; removing the midribs from said leaves; shredding said leaves without midribs in a shredder to the desired size; adding 10-90% tobacco in the said shredded leaves; and filling said shredded leaves and tobacco in the smoking article for smoking.
 11. The process of claim 10, further comprising adding flavoring agents in the shredded leaves and tobacco, and mixing the flavouring agents, leaves and tobacco evenly.
 12. The process of claim 11 wherein said flavouring agents are pan flavour, spearmint, tobacco flavour, fruit flavours, menthol or combination thereof.
 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the pan flavour comprises either pan masala powder or pan masala liquid or combination thereof.
 14. The process of claim 12 wherein the fruit flavours are lanovin, strawberry, green apple, mixed fruit or combination thereof.
 15. The process of claim 12 wherein the tobacco flavour is commercial tobacco flavour.
 16. The process of claim 12 wherein the spearmint or menthol are added in the range 0.0004-0.001%> of the shredded leaves and other flavouring agents are added in the range 0.001-0.5%) of the shredded leaves.
 17. A smoking article comprising herbal and tobacco filler composition prepared by the process of claim
 10. 